Caspase-14 expression in the human placenta

Caspase-14 is involved in epidermal differentiation, and previous studies demonstrated abundant expression in the skin. However, the expression of caspase-14 in the human placenta has not been reported. The aims of this study were to determine whether caspase-14 is expressed in the first trimester a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Reproductive biomedicine online 2005-08, Vol.11 (2), p.236-243
Main Authors: Daniel, WR Kam, Adrian, K Charles, Arun, M Dharmarajan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
apoptosis
Apoptosis - physiology
Blotting, Western
caspase
Caspase 14
Caspases - biosynthesis
Caspases - genetics
cell death
Chorionic Villi - enzymology
Female
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
human
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
In Situ Nick-End Labeling
placenta
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Proteins - biosynthesis
Pregnancy Proteins - genetics
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Skin - enzymology
Tissue Culture Techniques
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Summary:Caspase-14 is involved in epidermal differentiation, and previous studies demonstrated abundant expression in the skin. However, the expression of caspase-14 in the human placenta has not been reported. The aims of this study were to determine whether caspase-14 is expressed in the first trimester and term human placenta, and if it is associated with apoptosis in the placenta. Caspase-14 is expressed in the trophoblast cells, and in lower amounts in the mesenchyme. Western blot analysis demonstrated increased expression in the first trimester compared with term placentae. Immunohistochemistry for caspase-14 showed diffuse expression in the trophoblast layer, and not only in occasional cells that are identified by TUNEL staining. Using an explant model in which apoptosis was inhibited with superoxide dismutase (SOD), no significant differences in caspase-14 protein concentrations were seen with differing levels of apoptosis. Caspase-14 is present in the human placenta, primarily in the trophoblast, but its function is not clear, and appears not to be related purely to apoptosis.
ISSN:1472-6483
1472-6491
DOI:10.1016/S1472-6483(10)60964-9